Page 80 of In This Together

Immediately, Hannah understood. Andrea was trying to get rid of Jay from Sofia’s life, once and for all.

Hannah set the papers back down on Andrea’s desk and walked to the window, where they stood next to each other, looking out across the river. For long minutes, Hannah thought about the most appropriate response.

‘Andi, for as long as I’ve known you, you’ve tried to look out for Sofia and do the best by her. I know that there was a part of you that made the move to Stellar to try to give Sofia and Jay space to make a go of things.’

‘I told him Stellar would buy his stock on the condition that he files for a divorce,’ Andrea said.

‘You did what?’ Hannah was unable to hide her shock. ‘Andi, that isnotyour call to make.’

‘And yet, I made it,’ she said, shrugging, with her hard-faced bitch persona firmly in place.

‘Andi, what the hell is wrong with you? You live in your own world sometimes. You aren’t God. You can’t meddle with people’s lives like this.’

‘She isn’t people,’ Andrea said calmly. ‘She’s my sister and I know what’s best for her.’

‘What if what’s best for her is Jay? He’s getting help now.’

Andrea turned to look at Hannah. ‘Hannah, you know everything I know. He’s bad news. He always has been and, thankfully, I don’t believe Sofia loves him any more. How could she? My sister is afraid of being alone, afraid of letting people down and, most of all, afraid of admitting that sometimes, being family just isn’t enough to stop bad things from happening.’

Hannah scoffed. Andrea was unbelievable. ‘You know, for years, I have defended the way you behave. For years, I’ve thought that the way you are with Sofia is maternal instinct. But this… This is too far, Andi. I mean, God, is this really just about Sofia?’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’

‘You know exactly what it means. Is this about you not wanting to let go of Sanfia Records and wanting to prove something to the exec board at Stellar? Seems funny that Sofia finds a chart hit with Seth Young and you’re all of a sudden interested in buying the label.’

‘How dare you? You of all people should know that this isn’t about me! I want to give Sofia a way out. She’s tied to Jay financially, in business, in misplaced loyalty.’

‘And that’s her decision. Not yours.’

‘If I don’t help her, who will?’

‘You’re bang out of line, Andi, and when this thing backfires, I won’t help you pick up the pieces.’

Andrea glared at Hannah, her nostrils flared. ‘You have work to do.’

Hannah laughed sardonically. ‘That’s right. The truth isn’t easy, so let’s run. Typical Andrea.’

They stared at each other, each of them breathing hard with anger, until Andrea said, ‘There’s a memo on your desk to be typed up.’

Hannah finally took up her post at her desk and felt drained. Her morning had been frantic, made worse by Andrea’s revelation. She had been put in the middle of Andrea and Sofia again.

She was tired of it. Tired of everything. Shedidneed help.

How was it that Rod could wake up, get dressed, and swan off to work without a care in the world, whilst she panicked and fretted about everything in their lives?

What on earth was she supposed to do about Andrea’s latest move? Did she tell Sofia?

Why did she constantly have to think about everyone else and no one ever thought about what she might want or how she might be feeling?

Her cell phone chimed with a WhatsApp message…

Ros

Lunch, ladies? I have so much to tell you. Rx

And the next thing, Andrea shot out of her office running in the direction of the bathrooms. Hannah replied to the message.

Count me in.

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